Sandoval County Manager Wayne Johnson is not surprised that employees there were laid off by Intel as part of the company’s plans to cut 15,000 to 20,000 jobs nationwide. Intel has been struggling for years, missing out on the mobile market and facing increased competition from NVIDIA and other chipmakers.
New Mexico was hit less hard than neighboring states like Arizona and Oregon due to its relationship with Intel and the expansion of the company’s plant in Sandoval County. The unique nature of the plant, which performs advanced packaging, helps minimize the impact of layoffs.
Under an agreement with the City of Rio Rancho and Sandoval County, Intel must maintain 2,484 employees by the end of this year. Johnson is confident that even after the layoffs, around 3,000 people will remain employed at the site. The county is now supporting a job fair on August 14 to help those affected find new employment opportunities through the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions.
Source: https://www.kob.com/new-mexico/albuquerque-metro/sandoval-county-speaks-out-following-intel-to-layoffs